Neyland Carnival 2022

‘For the Romans bread and circuses sufficed to keep the population happy. For Neyland folks I think the return of the annual carnival, and the centenary carnival at that, went a great way to meet the same public need. The sheer creativity of the entries, whether floats or walking characters were uniformly of a really high standard and the entries were widely considered the best for many years. Along the route and on the field thousands watched the annual spectacle bathed under a hot July sun. It was the perfect day for community celebration. Enormous thanks are due to the participants, sponsors and the hard-working carnival committee under the dedicated leadership of Malcom Hawkins. The day could not have been bettered.’

Skate Park

A large number of youngsters turned up to witness the opening of the new Neyland Skatepark on Brunel Quay this evening.  The Mayor, Councillor Simon Hancock declared the facility open. Funding came from the Welsh Government capital play fund, Pembrokeshire County Council and from Neyland Town Council itself. The total cost of the scheme is nearly £50,000.  The council are pleased to make this important play provision for children in the town and feel sure it will be well used for years to come.

Neyland Carnival Coming Back 

Due to Coronavirus there was no carnival in Neyland in 2020 and 2021 but with the relaxation of restrictions it is intended to hold the carnival in July 2022. 

A meeting of the committee is being held at the Viewing Gallery, the Community  Hub, Neyland on Friday 25 February at 7.30pm  to discuss arrangements. 
Members of the public who would like to attend and who would like to help organise the event are most welcome. 

The Mayor of Neyland Councillor Simon Hancock  said ‘ Nowhere does a carnival like Neyland. There is such expectation of this year’s event and the effort and artistry of the entries  if usually of  an astonishingly high standard.  I would invite anyone to attend who would like to be actively involved and assist the committee chair, Mr Malcolm Hawkins and his committee. Mr Hawkins and the RAOB have worked so hard over years to make the carnival a reality and they cannot be credited enough. This year is especially auspicious since it is the 100th anniversary of the annual Neyland Carnival, first organised by the British Legion in 1922. There have been gaps over the years of course but the event is now an established tradition and we want to make this year’s spectacle the best ever. ‘ 



Skatepark

The skatepark equipment will cost £37,000 plus VAT and the resurfacing of the land cost £11,975.00 plus VAT and is being funded by joint funding from Welsh Govt Capital Funding and PCC Supporting Play Opportunities.  The resurfacing work has been completed and the equipment is due this month.  Work has to be completed by 31st March to comply with funding criteria.   The size of the park is 279 sq metres and there will be several different pieces of equipment similar to those in the illustration attached. We are leasing the grassed area from PCC as part of their Community Asset Transfer policy.

NEYLAND LADIES CHOIR

The photograph shows outgoing Chairlady Carol Scale and incoming Chairlady Trisha Campodonic.

After a long break of 18 months from singing because of Covid restrictions Neyland Ladies Choir were able to reconvene in September for the AGM.  There was a change of rehearsal venue, a necessary change in how rehearsals are conducted and a change of committee.

The choir made the move for weekly rehearsals to the schoolroom at Bethesda Chapel in Neyland.  The schoolroom is bigger than the previous rehearsal room enabling the ladies to be socially distanced from each other and everyone is currently wearing a visor or a mask whilst rehearsing.  Big thanks to the Pastor at Bethesda for helping with these new arrangements.   

The new committee were elected and the photograph shows the outgoing Chairlady, Carol Scale, being presented with the Waterford Bowl to mark her 2 years as Chairlady of the choir.  This bowl was specially made for the choir and presented to them on their visit to the Waterford Crystal factory in 1977 in honour of the choir’s 20th anniversary.  It is now presented to each outgoing Chairlady for safe keeping until it is time to pass it on.

The choir are now rehearsing items to be sung at the ordination of Robert Waygood as Pastor at Bethesda on 20th November and arrangements are taking place for the choir to share the stage with Barry Male Voice Choir on their planned visit to Pembrokeshire in April 2022.

Further information about the choir can be found on their website – neylandladieschoir.weebly.com or email –  neylandladieschoir@hotmail.com

Sports News

Cricket

After a disappointing couple of results that saw the First Team lose in the semi final of the national village cup and the quarter final of the Welsh Cup on consecutive Sunday’s we entered a massive last week of the Cricket season. 

This started with a home game against Lawrenny in the First Division league title decider at the Athletic club fields and we trailed Lawrenny by Nine points and Neyland had to win the game and ensure we did not give them to many bonus points in doing so. 

After a wet morning the game started on time thanks to the great work of ground staff, committee and players. Neyland batted first and scored 140 for 9 and bowled out Lawrenny for 118 to secure a third league title on the trot.

The following Saturday saw us travel to Cresselly and face Carew in the Harrision Allen Bowl Final in the First Carew innings we had Carew all out for 108 with some great bowling and fielding by our team. Neyland batted next scoring a massive 241 for 2 in our 22 overs a record score in the final breaking the other Two records set in the previous finals by us, Patrick Bellerby scored 134 not out Ross Hardy 49 not out and Nick Kooman 38.

In the Carew Second innings they scored 154 for 8 which left Neyland needing 23 when they batted which was passed comfortably to win the Bowl for the Tenth time and Second year on the trot and saw Captain Sean Hannon lift the Bowl in front of a massive Neyland support. Patrick Bellerby was named Man of the Match.On the Sunday captain Sean Hannon took the trophy to the houses of people who could not attend the final and have been stalwarts of the cricket club including Ann Phelan.

The Second Team finished mid table in Division Three and won the Alec Colley cup final at Pembroke beating Cresselly over Two innings with William Hughes winning the Man of the Match.

The Third Team also had a good season finishing in the top half of the season and narrowly going down in the semi final of the Ken Morris cup to a very good Narberth team.

The ladies also enjoyed a good season with numbers increasing and having a decent league season as well as getting to a couple of softball festivals.

The Junior section keeps going from strength to strength and this year saw fantastic numbers in our Dynamos and All Stars.

The community and business people have really got behind the club this season and was reflected by the numbers of supporters at games and Neyland Cricket Club are grateful for the support shown.

Rugby 

Yesterday saw our First team play for the time in 18 months with a thumping 58 -23 win at our rivals Llangwm under the leader ship of Captain George Williams and coaches Graham Richards and Steven Evans.

Today sees the Junior and mini section’s start there season. Wednesday night at the Athletic Club sees our newly formed Youth team under coach Colin Picton take to the pitch for the First time against Llangwm Youth it is great to see the youth team back in the club and we wish the well for the coming season

Picture Courtesy of the Pembrokeshire Herald